Best business advice 2012

In honor of the Best of WNC issues, we thought it would be the perfect time to gather some of our best business advice — well-worn wisdom that has guided our staff and their clients to business success over the years.

Here are tips from Mountain BizWorks’ business developers that can be used by any business — large or small, new or experienced.

“My boss at my first job taught me two important things. First, do what you say you’re going to do. And second, be responsive; get back to people within 24 hours. You might not be an expert at everything, but if you follow these simple rules you’ll automatically stand out from the competition.” — Russ Towers

“Instead of feeling threatened by people who do the same thing you do, mentor others who can learn from your experience. There may be others out there who do work similar to yours, but they’re not you. Your specific style and experience are what make you desirable to your customers.” — Candy Williams

“Building a business is all about relationships. Often business owners want to make their product or service the entity that the customer relates to — but that’s only a surrogate. You can buy products anywhere, but people will remain loyal to the people from whom they purchase. Your job is to explain why they might want to develop a relationship with you.” — Kimberly Hunter

“Have plenty of extra working capital so you have enough reserves to get through the slow periods. And get out into nature as much as possible to rejuvenate!” — Dave Bluth

“Trust but verify. Never accept information from employees, vendors or even business partners without verifying the information given. In some cases, people are being deceptive; in others, they may just be interpreting the information incorrectly. Verifying takes a little more effort, but it puts you in a better position to make sound decisions.” — Brian Riley

“Delegate whenever possible. Why do something yourself that someone else can do smarter, faster and cheaper than you can? Free yourself up to deliver the product or service; do what you do best!” — Annie Price

— Anna Raddatz is development and communications coordinator at Mountain BizWorks.

Want to make your business the best it can be? Learn about loans, consulting, and classes at Mountain BizWorks by visiting www.mountainbizworks.org or calling 253-2834.